Bliss Applications case study

: the app business or how to be different in a crowded market

Abstract

In 2009, smartphonesʼ users were booming in Portugal, especially among thecyounger generation, a more technology-driven group of consumers. It was in that same year that partners André Gil and Tiago Janela realized the potential of app development as a business. In 2010 the company was founded, under the name of Bliss Applications. It would eventually become a reference to the Portuguese market, and even to some countries abroad like the U.S, having won several prizes for the innovative character of the applications in terms of design and usability. Despite the success the company was having, the partners found themselves struggling with the fact that the number of downloads was beyond their expectations, and the overall cost structure was not subject to reductions due to the role marketing played in the company as a business card to users. There was the need to rethink the future businessʼ strategy. Bliss Applications business context and technological terminology provide a great insight for business classes, especially if aimed for the innovation arena. Through the analysis of the companyʼs case study it is possible to acquire further knowledge of the application development business and smartphones/tablets potential in the future, having in mind that it is a market that has been growing tremendously since 2007. This dissertation also includes a Literature Review section, which provides specific frameworks and a technology terminology explanation that aim to give ground to a better analysis of the case study. Furthermore, the dissertation also includes a Teaching Note section, which offers a possible approach to how the case study should be used in class, in order to guarantee a lively discussion and the studentsʼ involvement.

Date of Award	2012
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Nuno Magalhães Guedes (Supervisor)